Information processing apparatus, method of controlling the same and camera

ABSTRACT

This invention provides an information processing apparatus for allowing a user to perform operation without any confusion concerning a device which implements a plurality of functions for one operation member in accordance with operation methods for the operation member. A system controller performs control to execute a predetermined function in response to the start of operation on an operation member and terminate execution of the predetermined function in response to the end of the operation. A timer function unit measures the time from the start of operation on the operation member. When a given operation finishes before the time measured by the timer function unit exceeds a predetermined time after the start of the operation, a notification about the operation method for the operation member is output.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/960,950,filed Dec. 6, 2010, the entire disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatusthat controls a device in accordance with operation on an operationmember, a method of controlling the apparatus, and a camera.

Description of the Related Art

It has often been the case that a plurality of types of functions areimplemented in accordance with the operation times of one operationmember. For example, a music player is controlled such that when theuser presses a predetermined button for one sec or less, the playerskips to the next tune, whereas when the user presses the button for onesec or more, the player performs fast forward playback during the pressof the button (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.11-175099).

According to the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.11-175099, however, against the will to perform fast forward playback,since the user presses the button for a time shorter than required, theplayer skips to the next tune. This confuses the user because he/shedoes not know what has happened. This problem can occur in cameras andthe like as well as music players like that disclosed in Japanese PatentLaid-Open No. 11-175099.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in consideration of the aboveproblem to allow the user to operate, without any confusion, a deviceconfigured to implement a plurality of functions in accordance withoperation methods for one operation member.

In one aspect of the present invention, an information processingapparatus comprises a control unit configured to perform control toexecute a predetermined function in response to a start of operation onan operation member and terminate execution of the predeterminedfunction in response to an end of the operation, a time measuring unitconfigured to measure a time from a start of operation on the operationmember, and an output unit configured to output a notification about anoperation method for the operation member when the operation ends beforethe time measured by the time measuring unit exceeds a predeterminedtime after the operation starts.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments (with reference to theattached drawings).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the arrangement of adigital video camera according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a view showing examples of the menus displayed on the digitalvideo camera according to the embodiment;

FIGS. 3A to 3B are flowcharts showing the operation of the digital videocamera according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a view showing display examples on the liquid crystal panel ofthe digital video camera according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of the button placementon the video camera according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a view showing examples of the menus displayed on a digitalvideo camera according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 7 is a view showing display examples on the liquid crystal panel ofthe digital video camera according to the embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described indetail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that thepresent invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and theyare merely concrete examples advantageous to the execution of theinvention. All the combinations of the features described in thefollowing embodiments are not necessarily essential as means for solvingthe problem of the present invention.

First Embodiment

The first embodiment will exemplify a case in which an informationprocessing apparatus of the present invention is applied to a digitalvideo camera. This embodiment will exemplify a case in which theinformation processing apparatus of the present invention performscontrol for the active image stabilization function of a digital videocamera. In this case, “the active image stabilization function” is afunction of temporarily enhancing image stabilization processing inaccordance with a predetermined operation.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the arrangement of adigital video camera 100 according to this embodiment. The digital videocamera 100 includes a camera block 140, a microphone 102, an operationunit 103, a system controller 104, a recording/playback unit 105, a harddisk drive (to be referred to as an “HDD” hereinafter) 106, a liquidcrystal panel 107, a video output terminal 108, an audio output terminal109, an external I/F (interface) controller 111, a speaker 112, arecording processing block 130, and a playback processing block 120.

The camera block 140 includes an image sensing unit 141, a camera signalprocessor 142, and a camera controller 143. The image sensing unit 141includes an optical system lens, an image sensing element such as a CCD,an autofocus mechanism, a zoom mechanism, and an image stabilizationmechanism (none of which are shown). With this arrangement, the imagesensing unit 141 adjusts a focal point, an amount of light, and the likefor a field, converts an optical image at the depth of field at whichimage formation was performed through a lens into a video signal, andtransmits the signal to the camera signal processor 142 in accordancewith an instruction from the camera controller 143. The camera signalprocessor 142 performs predetermined signal processing for the videosignal in accordance with an instruction from the camera controller 143,and transmits the resultant signal to a video signal processor 131. Theoperation unit 103 includes operation members such as various kinds ofbuttons and dials (an AF ON/OFF dial, AE auto/lock dial, program AEdial, zoom dial, active image stabilization dial, and the like)associated with the camera system, and transmits instructions from theoperator to the camera controller 143 via the system controller 104. Thecamera controller 143 includes a microcomputer and controls the overallcamera system in accordance with instructions from the system controller104 and the operation unit 103.

The recording processing block 130 includes the video signal processor131, an audio signal processor 132, a video data encoder 133, an audiodata encoder 134, a metadata generator 135, and a data encodingprocessor 136. The playback processing block 120 includes a video outputunit 121, an audio output unit 122, a video data decoder 123, an audiodata decoder 124, and a data decoding processor 125.

The operation unit 103 is a man-machine interface to allow the user toset various settings and issue instructions to the digital video camera100. The operation unit 103 includes, in addition to the buttons anddials associated with the camera system described above, operationmembers such as a power switch, an operation mode switch, a start/stopbutton, various kinds of playback-related buttons such as a playbackbutton, a menu button, up, down, left, and right buttons, and a decisionbutton. The operation unit 103 includes an active image stabilizationbutton 501 (FIG. 5) to receive an instruction to execute “the activeimage stabilization function” of temporarily enhancing the imagestabilization function at the time of image capturing.

The system controller 104 is formed by a microcomputer including a CPU1041, a ROM 1042, and a RAM 1043. The system controller 104 includes atimer function unit 1044 to measure the time. In addition to this unit,the system controller 104 includes a logic such as a memory controllerto control the ROM 1042 and the RAM 1043, a time measuring unit, and anI/O port, and comprehensively controls the digital video camera 100. TheROM 1042 stores a control program 1045. The CPU 1041 expands thisprogram in the RAM 1043 and executes the program, thereby implementingvarious kinds of control.

The external I/F controller 111 is a digital interface such as a USB.The external I/F controller 111 connects the digital video camera 100 toa peripheral device host such as a personal computer or DVD writer, andtransfers a video file in accordance with a request from the peripheraldevice host in response to an instruction from the system controller104.

(Recording Mode)

The operation of the digital video camera 100 according to thisembodiment will be described below. The operation in the recording modewill be described first. When the user presses the start/stop buttonupon selecting the recording mode with the operation mode switch of theoperation unit 103, the system controller 104 detects this and startsrecording while controlling the respective units of the recordingprocessing block 130.

The recording processing block 130 encodes the video data obtained bythe camera block 140 and outputs the data in a predetermined format tothe recording/playback unit 105. The recording/playback unit 105generates a video file by adding additional information such as a headerset for each file format to the data string output from the recordingprocessing block 130, and records the file on the HDD 106.

In the recording processing block 130, the video signal processor 131receives the video data input from the camera signal processor 142. Thevideo signal processor 131 performs processing necessary for encoding ina predetermined encoding format, for example, sub-sampling, for thevideo data from the camera signal processor 142, and outputs theresultant data to the video data encoder 133.

The video data encoder 133 encodes the video data from the video signalprocessor 131 in accordance with the predetermined encoding format, forexample, MPEG2 format or Motion JPEG format, and outputs the encodeddata to the data encoding processor 136. The video data encoder 133 alsogenerates a thumbnail image as a representative image of one video file,and outputs the data of the thumbnail image to the data encodingprocessor 136.

The audio signal processor 132 receives audio data from the microphone102. The audio signal processor 132 converts an audio signal from themicrophone 102 into digital data. The audio signal processor 132 furtherperforms noise reduction, amplification, and the like for the audiodata, and outputs the resultant data to the audio data encoder 134. Theaudio data encoder 134 encodes the audio data from the audio signalprocessor 132 in a predetermined encoding format, for example, MPEG2format, and outputs the encoded data to the data encoding processor 136.

The metadata generator 135 generates metadata representing the imagecapturing date and time, aperture value (F-number), and the like, andoutputs the data to the data encoding processor 136. The data encodingprocessor 136 converts the encoded video data from the video dataencoder 133 and the encoded audio data from the audio data encoder 134into an MPEG2 or JPEG transport stream (TS). The data encoding processor136 also stores the metadata output from the metadata generator 135 andthe thumbnail image from the video data encoder 133, as additionalinformation of the image file, in the header of footer of the data filein the TS format. The data encoding processor 136 outputs the fileconverted into the TS format to the recording/playback unit 105.

The digital video camera 100 of this embodiment records the video dataand audio signals input from the camera block 140 and the microphone 102together as one file in the interval between the instant an instructionto start recording is input and the instant an instruction to stoprecording is input. The user issues an instruction to start recording bypressing the start/stop button, and issues an instruction to stoprecording by pressing the start/stop button again. When the user stopsrecording, the data encoding processor 136 stores metadata from themetadata generator 135 and a thumbnail image from the video data encoder133 in the header or footer of each file. The header also records a filename and the like.

(Playback Mode)

The operation in the playback mode will be described next. When the userpresses the playback button upon selecting the playback mode with theoperation mode switch of the operation unit 103, the system controller104 detects this. The system controller 104 then controls the playbackprocessing block 120 to read out the thumbnail image stored in theheader or footer of each video file recorded on the HDD 106 and displaysa list of thumbnails on the liquid crystal panel 107 as an example of adisplay device.

The user checks the thumbnail images displayed on the liquid crystalpanel 107, and selects the thumbnail image of a file which he/she wantsto play back, by operating, for example, the up, down, left, and rightkeys included in the operation unit 103. The user then presses thedecision button or the like to designate the video file to be playedback. When the user designates the video file to be played back, thesystem controller 104 controls the respective units of the playbackprocessing block 120 to decode the designated video file and display theresultant image on the liquid crystal panel 107.

The playback processing block 120 acquires the designated video filefrom the HDD 106 via the recording/playback unit 105. The playbackprocessing block 120 then decodes the video data and audio data in thevideo file, and outputs the resultant data to the video output terminal108 and the audio output terminal 109, respectively, thereby displayingthe played back video on the liquid crystal panel 107 and outputting thesound from the speaker 112. More specifically, when the user designatesa video file to be played back, the system controller 104 controls therecording/playback unit 105 to read out the designated video file fromthe HDD 106 and supplies the file to the playback processing block 120.The video file read out from the HDD 106 by the recording/playback unit105 is output to the data decoding processor 125. The data decodingprocessor 125 detects video data and audio data from the supplied videofile, and further detects metadata from the header or footer of thevideo file. The video data is output to the video data decoder 123. Theaudio data is output to the audio data decoder 124.

The video data decoder 123 decodes the video data output from the datadecoding processor 125, and outputs the data to the video output unit121. The video output unit 121 converts the decoded video data into aformat suitable for processing by an external monitor or anotherexternal device, and outputs the resultant data to at least one of thevideo output terminal 108 and the liquid crystal panel 107.

The audio data decoder 124 decodes the audio data output from the datadecoding processor 125 and outputs the data to the audio output unit122. The audio output unit 122 converts the decoded audio signal into aformat suitable for processing by an external device, and outputs theresultant data to the audio output terminal 109. Note that it ispossible to output the audio signal to the speaker 112.

(Data Transfer Processing)

Upon detecting the connection between the digital video camera 100 andthe peripheral device host, the external I/F controller 111discriminates the type of connected peripheral device host. Thereafter,the external I/F controller 111 notifies the system controller 104 ofthe connection to the peripheral device host, together with theinformation of the discriminated type. Upon receiving a data transferrequest from the peripheral device host via the external I/F controller111, the system controller 104 reads out a desired video file from theHDD 106 via the recording/playback unit 105, and transfers the file tothe peripheral device host.

Assume that the user can select one of the two operation methods, namely“keep pressing” and “ON/OFF switching”, as an operation method for theactive image stabilization button. Operation to be performed when theuser presses the button for a short period of time in spite of theselection of “keep pressing” will be described with reference to FIGS. 2to 4. Assume that in this embodiment, it is possible to set, in advance,one of the operation methods, namely “keep pressing” and “ON/OFFswitching”, concerning the active image stabilization button 501 (FIG.5) as an operation member based on user operation. “Keep pressing” is asetting to make the active image stabilization function operate in theinterval between the instant the user starts pressing the active imagestabilization button 501 and the instant the user releases the button.That is, the active image stabilization function is ON only while theuser presses the active image stabilization button 501, and is turnedoff when the user releases the active image stabilization button 501. Incontrast, “ON/OFF switching” is a setting to switch the active imagestabilization function to the ON state when the user presses the activeimage stabilization button 501 and the function has been OFF, and toswitch the function to the OFF state when the user presses the buttonand the function has been ON. That is, in “ON/OFF switching”, when theactive image stabilization function has been OFF, pressing the activeimage stabilization button 501 will turn on the active imagestabilization function. In this case, the active image stabilizationfunction is kept on after the user releases the active imagestabilization button 501.

The reason why the user is allowed to select one of the two operationmethods, namely “keep pressing” and “ON/OFF switching”, for the activeimage stabilization button will be described below. Turning on theactive image stabilization function will change normal imagestabilization and stabilization characteristics. This has the merit ofenhancing the image stabilization effect on the telephoto side. Incontrast to this, the demerit is that it is difficult to follow uppanning operation. Allowing the user to select one of the aboveoperation methods in accordance with an image capturing state and theskill of the operator makes it possible to provide a camera with betteroperability.

FIG. 2 shows a display example of a menu screen to switch between “keeppressing” and “ON/OFF switching”. In this embodiment, “keep pressing” isthe first operation mode of executing the active image stabilizationprocessing only in the interval between the instant the user startsoperating (more specifically, pressing) the active image stabilizationbutton and the instant the user stops operating the button. On the otherhand, “ON/OFF switching” is the second operation mode of switchingbetween execution and termination of active image stabilizationprocessing every time the user performs one operation (morespecifically, pressing) for the active image stabilization button.

When the user presses the menu button of the operation unit 103, a menu201 is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 107. When the user furthermoves a menu cursor 202 up and down with the up and down buttons of theoperation unit 103, selects “active image stabilization button”, andpresses the decision button of the operation unit 103, a setting screen203 is displayed. In this state, the user can select “keep pressing” or“ON/OFF switching” by moving the menu cursor 202 up and down with the upand down buttons of the operation unit 103. In this case, the menuoperation with the buttons has been exemplified. It is however, possibleto use a touch panel or the like.

FIGS. 3A to 3B are flowcharts showing a processing procedure for ON/OFFswitching control on the active image stabilization function. Thedigital video camera 100 executes this processing when the aboverecording mode is set. The recording mode includes a standby period forrecording (standby period for image capturing) before the issuance of aninstruction to start recording with the start/stop button and arecording period (image capturing period) after the start of recordingwith the start/stop button. Assume that in either period, the objectvideo captured by the camera block 140 is displayed on the liquidcrystal panel 107 in real time. The CPU 1041 implements this processingby executing the control program 1045 stored in the ROM 1042 uponexpanding the program in the RAM 1043.

When the user switches the digital video camera 100 to the recordingmode by operating the operation mode switch included in the operationunit 103, the CPU 1041 starts processing following the flowcharts ofFIGS. 3A to 3B. The CPU 1041 performs control so as to execute activeimage stabilization processing in response to the start of operation ofthe active image stabilization button as an operation member andterminate the execution of the active image stabilization processing inresponse to the end of operation of the active image stabilizationbutton. The following is a concrete example of the processing.

In step S302, the CPU 1041 determines whether the user has pressed theactive image stabilization button of the operation unit 103. If YES instep S302, the process advances to step S303. If NO in step S302, theprocess returns to step S302 to wait for the press of the button. Instep S303, the timer function unit 1044 of the system controller 104resets the button pressing timer and stops counting. In step S304, theCPU 1041 turns off the display of the guidance “image stabilization iskept executed while button is pressed”. In step S305, the CPU 1041determines on the menu whether the button operation is set to “keeppressing”. If the button operation is set to “keep pressing”, theprocess advances to step S306. If the button operation is not set to“keep pressing”, that is, if the button operation is set to “ON/OFFswitching”, the process advances to step S307.

In step S307, the CPU 1041 determines whether active image stabilizationis currently ON or OFF. If active image stabilization is OFF, theprocess advances to step S308. If active image stabilization is ON, theprocess advances to step S309. In step S308, the CPU 1041 sets activeimage stabilization ON and displays an active image stabilization icon(403 in FIG. 4) on the liquid crystal panel 107. In step S309, the CPU1041 sets active image stabilization OFF and displays a normal imagestabilization icon (402 in FIG. 4) on the liquid crystal panel 107. Inthis case, normal image stabilization and active image stabilization arediscriminated by the icons having different designs and colors. However,the form of discrimination or the like is not limited to this as long asthe ON state of active image stabilization can be discriminated.

In step S306, the timer function unit 1044 causes the button pressingtimer to start counting. In step S310, the CPU 1041 sets active imagestabilization ON and displays the active image stabilization icon (403in FIG. 4) on the liquid crystal panel 107. In step S311, the CPU 1041determines whether the active image stabilization button of theoperation unit 103 is pressed. If NO in step S311, the process advancesto step S312. If YES in step S311, the process returns to step S311 towait for the release of the button.

In step S312, the CPU 1041 sets active image stabilization OFF anddisplays the normal image stabilization icon (402 in FIG. 4) on theliquid crystal panel 107. In step S313, the CPU 1041 determines whetherthe count value of the button pressing timer is larger than preset n[sec] (about several hundred msec). If YES in step S313, the processadvances to step S319 to terminate the processing. If NO in step S313,the process advances to step S314.

In step S314, the CPU 1041 starts counting after resetting the displaytimer of the timer function unit 1044 of the system controller 104. Instep S315, the CPU 1041 displays the warning or guidance “imagestabilization is kept executed while button is pressed” (404 in FIG. 4)on the liquid crystal panel 107. In step S316, the CPU 1041 determineswhether the active image stabilization button of the operation unit 103is pressed. If YES in step S316, the process returns to step S303. If NOin step S316, the process advances to step S317. In step S317, the CPU1041 determines whether the count value of the display timer is largerthan preset m [sec]. If YES in step S317, the process advances to stepS318. If NO in step S317, the process returns to step S316. In stepS318, the CPU 1041 terminates the display of the guidance “imagestabilization is kept executed while button is pressed” (401 in FIG. 4)on the liquid crystal panel 107.

As described above, the first embodiment includes the button which canbe switched between the button for ON/OFF switching operation and thebutton for making the function effective during pressing. When the userpresses the button for a short period of time, forgetting that he/shehas set this button to the button for making the function effectiveduring pressing, the following effects can be obtained. Even if the usercannot obtain a desired operation result due to the above operation,this apparatus quickly notifies the user of the reason. This can guidethe user to a proper operation method from the next time, thus allowingthe user to obtain a desired operation result. In addition, while thefunction is executed, the apparatus displays information letting theuser know that the function is being executed. The user can thereforereliably know that the button is actually pressed, and the desiredfunction is executed.

Note that the active image stabilization button 501 is placed at aposition in consideration of the characteristics of the function. FIG. 5shows a case in which the active image stabilization button 501 isplaced on the liquid crystal panel 107 of the digital video camera 100.Assume that the active image stabilization button 501 is placed at thisposition, and the user sets the button so as to make the active imagestabilization function effective by “keep pressing”. In this case, asshown in FIG. 5, the user holds the camera body with his/her right hand,while holding the active image stabilization button 501 placed on theliquid crystal panel 107 with his/her left hand. That is, in this case,the active image stabilization button 501 is placed at a position whichfaces the portion held with one hand through the image sensing unit 141and at which the button is held with other hand. This can enhance theimage stabilization function and induce the user to hold the digitalvideo camera 100 with his/her both hands in a stable posture, therebymore actively preventing camera shake. In this embodiment, as describedabove, the active image stabilization button 501 is placed at theposition shown in FIG. 5 to produce a synergistic effect based on theactive image stabilization function of the video camera and firm holdingof the video camera.

Second Embodiment

The second embodiment will exemplify a case in which the concept ofcontrol described in the first embodiment is applied to other than theactive image stabilization button. The same reference numerals denotefunctional blocks which perform the same processes as those in the firstembodiment, and a description of them will be omitted.

FIG. 6 shows an example of menu display performed by a digital videocamera 100 in this embodiment. When the user presses the menu button ofan operation unit 103, a liquid crystal panel 107 displays a menu 601.When the user further selects “button operation” by vertically moving amenu cursor 602 with the up and down buttons of the operation unit 103and presses the decision button of the operation unit 103, a settingscreen 603 is displayed. In this state, the user selects a desiredbutton by vertically moving a menu cursor 602 with the up and downbuttons of the operation unit 103. The setting screen 603 indicates acase in which “start/stop” is selected. A setting screen 605 indicates acase in which “zoom” is selected. In this case, the user can select“keep pressing” or “ON/OFF switching” by pressing the decision button ofthe operation unit 103. A setting screen 604 indicates a case in whichthe user has selected “start/stop” on the setting screen 603. A settingscreen 606 indicates a case in which the user has selected “zoom” on thesetting screen 605. Note that in this case, the menu operation with thebuttons has been exemplified. It is however, possible to use a touchpanel or the like.

FIG. 7 shows display examples on the liquid crystal panel according tothe embodiment. When the user presses the start/stop button of theoperation unit 103 for a short period of time while “keep pressing” of“start/stop” is selected on the setting screen 604 in FIG. 6, forexample, a guidance 702 “recording is continued while button is pressed”is displayed on a recording screen 701 for a predetermined period oftime. Reference numeral 703 denotes an example of display indicating arecording pause state.

When the user presses the zoom button of the operation unit 103 for ashort period of time on the setting screen 606 in FIG. 6 while “keeppressing” of “zoom” is selected, a guidance 705 “zooming is continuedwhile button is pressed” is displayed on a recording screen 704 for apredetermined period of time. Reference numeral 706 denotes an exampleof display indicating a state in which zooming operation is notcurrently performed.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the cameraincluding a plurality of buttons as operation members and havingpredetermined functions assigned to the respective buttons can switchoperation methods for each button in accordance with designation by theuser. In addition, a guidance corresponding to the operation methodassigned to each button is displayed. This allows the user to performoperation without any confusion concerning a plurality of operationmethods assigned to the respective buttons.

Each embodiment described above has exemplified the case in which when abutton to which the function which is made effective only during thepressing of the button is assigned is operated for only a period of timeequal to or less than a predetermined time, a guidance concerning theoperation method assigned to the button is displayed as a warning.However, it is possible to output a warning other than a guidancedisplayed as a warning. That is, when a button to which the functionwhich is made effective only during the pressing of the button isassigned is operated for only a period of time equal to or less than apredetermined time, it is possible to generate a warning sound insteadof displaying a warning or together with a warning indication.

The present invention has been described in detail above based on thepreferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited tothese specific embodiments, and includes various forms without departingfrom the scope of the invention. The above embodiments may be partlycombined with each other.

The above embodiments have exemplified the digital video camera.However, it is possible to find the same effects as those describedabove in various apparatuses including buttons which are made effectivewhile kept pressed.

Note that control by the system controller 104 may be implemented by onepiece of hardware, and the overall apparatus may be controlled bysharing processes among a plurality of pieces of hardware.

The present invention has been described in detail based on thepreferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited tothese specific embodiments, and includes various forms without departingfrom the scope of the invention. The above embodiments are merelyexamples of the present invention, and the respective embodiments can becombined as needed.

In addition, the above embodiments have exemplified the case in whichthe present invention is applied to the digital video camera. However,the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the presentinvention can be equally applied to a personal computer, a PDA, aportable image viewer such as a cellular phone terminal, a displayprovided for a printer apparatus to select and check printed images, adigital photo frame, and the like.

Other Embodiments

Aspects of the present invention can also be realized by a computer of asystem or apparatus (or devices such as a CPU or MPU) that reads out andexecutes a program recorded on a memory device to perform the functionsof the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method, the steps ofwhich are performed by a computer of a system or apparatus by, forexample, reading out and executing a program recorded on a memory deviceto perform the functions of the above-described embodiment(s). For thispurpose, the program is provided to the computer for example via anetwork or from a recording medium of various types serving as thememory device (for example, computer-readable medium).

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2009-288419, filed Dec. 18, 2009, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A camera control apparatus comprising: a controlunit configured to perform control to execute a camera control functionin response to a start of a single operation on an operation member andterminate execution of the camera control function in response to an endof the single operation which has continued from the start of the singleoperation; a time measuring unit configured to measure a time from thestart of the single operation; and an output unit configured to output anotification about an operation method for continuously executing thecamera control function using the operation member in response that thesingle operation which has continued from the start of the singleoperation ends before the time measured by said time measuring unitexceeds a predetermined time after the single operation starts, whereinthe notification is not output prior to the end of the single operation,wherein, when the single operation ends before the time measured by saidtime measuring unit exceeds the predetermined time, the camera controlfunction is executed in response to the start of the single operation,and is terminated in response to the end of the single operation, andthen the notification, which indicates an operation method forcontinuously executing the terminated camera control function, isoutput.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unitis further configured to perform control to continuously execute thecamera control function while the single operation on the operationmember is being carried out regardless of whether the time measured bythe time measuring unit exceeds the predetermined time or not.
 3. Aninformation processing apparatus comprising: a control unit configuredto perform control to execute a predetermined function in response to astart of a single operation on an operation member and terminateexecution of the predetermined function in response to an end of thesingle operation which has continued from the start of the singleoperation; a time measuring unit configured to measure a time from thestart of the single operation on the operation member; and an outputunit configured to output a notification about an operation method forthe operation member in response that the single operation which hascontinued from the start of the single operation ends before the timemeasured by said time measuring unit exceeds a predetermined time afterthe single operation starts, wherein the notification is not outputprior to the end of the single operation, and wherein, when the singleoperation ends before the time measured by said time measuring unitexceeds the predetermined time, the predetermined function is executedin response to the start of the single operation, and is terminated inresponse to the end of the single operation, and then the notification,which indicates an operation method for continuously executing theterminated predetermined function, is output.
 4. The apparatus accordingto claim 3, further comprising a display unit configured to display thatthe predetermined function is being executed, during execution of thepredetermined function.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 3, furthercomprising a selection unit configured to select, in accordance with aninstruction from a user, a first operation mode of executing thepredetermined function only in an interval between the start of thesingle operation and the end of the single operation and a secondoperation mode of switching between execution and termination of thepredetermined function for every operation on the operation member,wherein when said selection unit selects the first operation mode, saidcontrol unit, said time measuring unit, and said output unit operate. 6.The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the operation membercomprises a plurality of operation members, the predetermined functionincludes a plurality of functions respectively corresponding to theplurality of operation members, and said output unit outputs anotification corresponding to a function executed by one of theplurality of operation members which is operated.
 7. A camera comprisingan information processing apparatus defined in claim 3, wherein thepredetermined function includes an active image stabilization functionof making an image stabilization effect stronger when turned ON,compared to being in the OFF state.
 8. The camera according to claim 7,wherein the operation member is placed at an opposite side position of aportion held with one hand of a user through an image sensing unit andat which the operation member is held with the other hand.
 9. The cameraaccording to claim 8, further comprising a camera body including theimage sensing unit, and a variable-angle display unit with which theangle can be freely changed with respect to the camera body, wherein theportion held with one hand of a user is provided on the camera body, andthe opposite side position at which the operation member is placed isprovided on the variable-angle display unit.
 10. The apparatus accordingto claim 3, wherein said output unit is configured not to output thenotification when the single operation ends after the time measured bysaid time measuring unit exceeds the predetermined time after the singleoperation starts.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein saidoutput unit is configured to output the notification to a display unitto display the notification.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 11,wherein said output unit is configured to output a message as thenotification, which indicates that the predetermined function is keptexecuted while the operation member being operated, to said displayunit, when the operation ends before the time measured by said timemeasuring unit exceeds the predetermined time after the operationstarts.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said outputunit is configured to end the displaying of the notification upon elapseof a predefined time period after the notification is displayed.
 14. Theapparatus according to claim 13, wherein said output unit is configuredto end the displaying of the notification in response to the start ofthe single operation, even before the predefined time period elapsesafter the notification is displayed.
 15. The apparatus according toclaim 3, wherein said control unit performs control to execute thepredetermined function when the time measured by said measuring unitdoes not exceed the predetermined time, as well as when the singleoperation is still continued after the time measured by said measuringunit exceeds the predetermined time.
 16. The apparatus according toclaim 3, wherein the control unit is further configured to performcontrol to continuously execute the predetermined function while thesingle operation on the operation member is being carried out regardlessof whether the time measured by the time measuring unit exceeds thepredetermined time or not.
 17. A method for controlling a camera, themethod comprising: performing control to execute a camera controlfunction in response to a start of a single operation on an operationmember and terminate execution of the camera control function inresponse to an end of the single operation which has continued from thestart of the single operation; measuring a time from the start of thesingle operation; and outputting a notification about an operationmethod for continuously executing the camera control function using theoperation member in response that the single operation which hascontinued from the start of the single operation ends before themeasured time exceeds a predetermined time after the single operationstarts, wherein the notification is not output prior to the end of thesingle operation, wherein, when the single operation ends before themeasured time exceeds the predetermined time, the camera controlfunction is executed in response to the start of the single operation,and is terminated in response to the end of the single operation, andthen the notification, which indicates an operation method forcontinuously executing the terminated camera control function, isoutput.
 18. A method of controlling an information processing apparatus,comprising the steps of: performing control to execute a predeterminedfunction in response to a start of a single operation on an operationmember and terminate execution of the predetermined function in responseto an end of the single operation which has continued from the start ofthe single operation; measuring a time from start of the singleoperation on the operation member; and outputting a notification aboutan operation method for the operation member in response that the singleoperation which has continued from the start of the single operationends before the time measured in the time measuring step exceeds apredetermined time after the single operation starts, wherein thenotification is not output prior to the ending of the single operation,and wherein, when the single operation ends before the time measured bysaid time measuring unit exceeds the predetermined time, thepredetermined function is executed in response to the start of thesingle operation, and is terminated in response to the end of the singleoperation, and then the notification, which indicates an operationmethod for continuously executing the terminated predetermined function,is output.
 19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storinga program for causing a computer to function as each unit of a cameracontrol apparatus, the camera control apparatus comprising: a controlunit configured to perform control to execute a camera control functionin response to a start of a single operation on an operation member andterminate execution of the camera control function in response to an endof the single operation which has continued from the start of the singleoperation; a time measuring unit configured to measure a time from thestart of the single operation; and an output unit configured to output anotification about an operation method for continuously executing thecamera control function using the operation member in response that thesingle operation which has continued from the start of the singleoperation ends before the time measured by said time measuring unitexceeds a predetermined time after the single operation starts, whereinthe notification is not output prior to the end of the single operation,wherein, when the single operation ends before the time measured by saidtime measuring unit exceeds the predetermined time, the camera controlfunction is executed in response to the start of the single operation,and is terminated in response to the end of the single operation, andthen the notification, which indicates an operation method forcontinuously executing the terminated camera control function, isoutput.
 20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing aprogram for causing a computer to function as each unit of aninformation processing apparatus, the information processing apparatuscomprising: a control unit configured to perform control to execute apredetermined function in response to a start of a single operation onan operation member and terminate execution of the predeterminedfunction in response to an end of the single operation which hascontinued from the start of the single operation; a time measuring unitconfigured to measure a time from the start of the single operation onthe operation member; and an output unit configured to output anotification about an operation method for the operation member inresponse that the single operation which has continued from the start ofthe single operation ends before the time measured by said timemeasuring unit exceeds a predetermined time after the single operationstarts, wherein the notification is not output prior to the end of thesingle operation, and wherein, when the single operation ends before thetime measured by said time measuring unit exceeds the predeterminedtime, the predetermined function is executed in response to the start ofthe single operation, and is terminated in response to the end of thesingle operation, and then the notification, which indicates anoperation method for continuously executing the terminated predeterminedfunction, is output.